Rocky Mountain PBS

09/08/2026

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment lifted the water contact advisory for John Martin Reservoir in Hasty, Colorado Sept. 4, nine days after untreated wastewater spilled into the Arkansas River in Pueblo. | Reporting by Chelsea Casabona

Advisories remain in place in other areas throughout Arkansas River after a 4.2 million gallon sewage spill occurred in Pueblo.

09/04/2026

Mind you, this is a cooking show...RMPBS Retro presents "Foods From the Fort - Sam Arnold’s Legacy,” as we continue to celebrate 70 years as your public media station.

Would you believe us if we told you that Sam blows out the studio microphones at the end of this episode by firing this 1861 Springfield r***e? Also in this same episode, learn from Sam how to prepare dishes inspired by various Western traditions and expeditions of the historic Fryingpan River Valley.

Thank you to our Station Archived Memories (SAM) volunteers for all their tireless work and efforts to help bring RMPBS Retro to life and thank you for supporting Rocky Mountain PBS!

Watch the complete program on RMPBS+, link in bio.

09/03/2026

Yesterday afternoon, Chantz Rivera, also known as Mula, made it to Denver, walking all the way from The Bronx, New York.

It was his 95th day on the road, he set off on foot for the west coast on May 31st. The goal—make it to San Francisco.

Rivera said, he felt there was more to life than just working and living in the city. He's also never left the east coast. Rivera is about to hit the highest point of his journey once he begins to traverse the Rocky Mountains, but he said he's looking forward to the challenge. And he's bringing bear spray with him.

While in Denver, Rivera stopped into the RMPBS office and shared a bit of his experience so far. He's documenting his whole trip on social media.

09/03/2026

From NPR: Gloria Steinem, a trailblazing journalist and activist who devoted her life to fighting for women's rights, died on Wednesday. She was 92.

At a time when women were largely limited to domestic roles, Steinem challenged gender stereotypes and championed feminist ideals like equality, sisterhood and reproductive freedom.

09/02/2026

The Bureau of Land Management gathered 894 wild horses from the Piceance-East Douglas Herd Management Area and West Douglas Herd Area.

BLM has already transported majority of the removed horses to an off-range corral in Wheatland, Wyoming, and may later offer some for adoption.

BLM had initially planned to gather about 1,025 horses during the operation. Weather, terrain and safety conditions impact how many horses the agency can gather within the controversial operation’s allotted timeframe.

The BLM says that the current wild horse population on the Piceance-East Douglas Herd Management Areas are about 345% above the “appropriate management level”, which impacts the quality of the ecological landscape, according to the BLM’s August wild horse gather report.

Wild horse gatherings happen across the American West, but the BLM last conducted a wild horse round-up in the Piceance-East Douglas Herd Management Areas in 2022 and 2023.

Some animals die during the process, and wild horse activists also are concerned about the stress helicopter round-ups put on the horses. Activists also say that wild horses shouldn’t live the rest of their lives in a holding pen.

Many activists are opposed to the helicopter gathering and believe the wild horses should be left alone. Others advocate for increasing wild horse fertility control, which BLM said can be a difficult and timely process.

Reporting by Ziyi Xu and Chelsea Casabona.

09/02/2026

At the ripe old age of 92, Barbara Johnson grabbed her bat and shuffled over to home plate in her bright, peach-colored sneakers. Her teammates cheered her on in the dugout, all with varying shades of grey and white hair and amounts of protective gear. As the oldest player, Johnson earned an endearing nickname from them: Mom.

”Batter up, Mom!” her daughter and teammate, Deborah Johnson, called out.

Johnson plays for the Colorado Peaches softball team. In late August, she and her 60 teammates split into four groups for a scrimmage at Addenbrooke Park in Lakewood. The games were part of a big event to celebrate the Colorado Peaches' 35th anniversary.

Johnson’s team — the Salsas — were losing when she stepped up to the plate, ready to hit a run. She gripped the metal bat and took a swing, but the ball landed right by first base. Johnson jogged over but did not get there in time before being tagged out. The crowd backed her up with applause and cheers as she walked back to the dugout.

“ARGH! Shucks,” Johnson said.

The Colorado Peaches were created in 1991 by Chloe Childers, a former physical education teacher in Greeley who wanted to play softball when she was 60. If the name of the team sounds a little familiar, it’s because it was inspired in part by the Rockford Peaches from the movie "A League of Their Own." But the Colorado team claims it truly got its name because the state has the best peaches.

Read the complete story at rmpbs.org/news
Reporting by Adrian O'Farrill and Emma Vanden

09/02/2026

Watch now | "Colorado Experience: Made in Marble" is now available for streaming anytime on the RMPBS+ app and YouTube. Learn about the history of this fascinating little Colorado town with a big impact on our nation's history.

09/01/2026

The Denver Museum of Nature & Science unveiled its newly renovated Sturm Family Wing on the morning of September 1.

The nearly 6 year project consisted of enhancements to the Sturm Family Plaza on the East facing side of the museum, as well as a renovated Infinity Theater and Lobby.

The project was made possible by a $20 million gift from the Sturm Family Foundation, the largest private donation in the Museum’s history. The Sturm Family Foundation has also previously made contributions to Rocky Mountain Public Media.

Reporting by Adrian O'Farrill

09/01/2026

The Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance announced it will welcome two southern white rhinos this fall. This is the first time the zoo will house the species in its 130-year history.

This year has ushered in several changes among the zoo’s pachyderms. The zoo euthanized its beloved 32-year-old black rhino, Rudy, in May after a significant decline in his health and quality of life. Animal caretakers have been preparing Mahali, the zoo’s only Nile hippo, for his move to Texas. The zoo plans renovate its Old Pachyderms building, which first opened in the 1950s, after Mahali’s departure.

Reporting by Carly Rose

08/31/2026

Sandy Monahan is the friendly face that no one running the Leadville 100 wants to see. Each year, hundreds of runners travel to Lake County to attempt one of the world’s most iconic ultramarathons: 100 miles in less than 30 hours with more than 13,000 feet of elevation gain. On average, half of the runners who start the Leadville 100 will not finish in time. | Reporting by Carly Rose

About half of the runners who attempt the Leadville 100 don't finish. For more than 20 years, Sandy Monahan has been the one to tell them their race is over.